The landing came smooth and fast several minutes later, and as the plane parked at the gate, I waited for the ground team to open the door. When all was clear, I took my place near the exit door with Miss Connors.
“We have two days of rest here,” she said. “So I suggest you soak up as much time in the hotel robes as possible, and find the time to unpack your brain so you can bring it aboard our next flight.”
I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to respond to that, so I simply nodded and turned away from her.
“Have an amazing time in London!” Her voice instantly became chirpy for the departing passengers. “Thank you for flying with Elite! Come see us again!”
I started to say farewell to them as well, but I felt Jake stepping between the two of us.
“Nice speech, Captain Weston.” She looked up at him. “Are you not saying the mandatory Elite words and being non-friendly because you’ve forgotten how to be, or are you purposely doing it in hopes that I’ll record it and have you written up?”
“I’m hoping I’ll be written up.”
“You’re lucky I’m in a good mood today.” She glared at him. “The next time we fly together, I can guarantee that I won’t be.”
“Looking forward to it.” He glared back at her until she turned away and resumed her over-the-top farewells.
Unlike the other pilots I’d flown with, he didn’t chime in with us to wish the passengers well. Instead, he stood there silent and brooding, as if the passengers couldn’t get off the plane fast enough.
When the final passengers departed, I expected him to say something, to at least look at me, but he addressed the first officer, then he addressed us all.
“Until next time, ladies.” He pulled on the handle of his luggage and said a few more words to the first officer before heading down the jet bridge.
I grabbed my bag and rolled it far behind him, catching bits and pieces of the lusty compliments the other flight attendants were throwing his way.
We all walked through the terminal and to the ground transportation dock where a designated white van was waiting for us. The first officer and Miss Connors shared the front row, I claimed the middle, and Jake sat behind me with Janet and Elizabeth.
“So, Captain Weston...” Elizabeth purred, keeping her voice low so Miss Connors couldn’t hear. “How long will you be staying in London?”
“Just tonight.”
“Oh!” Janet cleared her throat. “Since you only have one night, would you like to join us at the bar this evening?”
“I’ll think about it.”
“What’s there to think about? Did you already have plans?”
“I did,” he said, and I could feel him staring at me. “But the arrangement seems a bit too challenging, so I may have to completely cancel.”
“I see. Well, that’s good for us then.”
I felt a sudden pang of jealousy as he spoke to them, something I’d never felt when seeing my previous lovers or boyfriends casually talk to women. Hell, Ben had entertained an ex-girlfriend twice a year via his polo club reunions, and back then I never even gave it a second thought. Never felt a remote sense of concern or envy.
But now, this man who had only been inside of me twice, was pushing me closer and closer to the edge of turning around and saying something.
For ten minutes, and five highway exits, I sat and helplessly listened as my coworkers laid their charm on thick. As he practically returned their charm with equal interest.
The second the van pulled in front of the hotel, I opened the door and nearly jumped out. “I’ll check us all in,” I said, rushing inside the door with Miss Connors rushing to catch up to me.
“Something wrong, Miss Taylor?” She sounded genuinely concerned. “Are you okay?”
“No, just really tired. That’s all.”
She furrowed her brow, but she didn’t say anything further.
The desk agent quickly located our crew packets and checked our IDs before handing us our room keys.
“Sunday at ten, Miss Taylor,” Miss Connors said. “If you’re so much as a millisecond late, I’ll make sure you regret it.”
“Got it.” I walked away just as Jake and the rest of the crew walked through the hotel doors. I headed straight for the elevators, but since I didn’t want to have to deal with seeing any glances exchanged or hear any sexual innuendos, I walked across the hotel’s atrium and headed toward the emergency steps.
Passing through a windowed hallway, I rolled my luggage to the first flight of steps and suddenly felt someone gripping my waist from behind, someone spinning me around.
“I need to set some rules and conditions of my own for this shit.” Jake’s blue eyes stared into mine, wanting and possessive.
My back hit the window and my luggage fell to the floor.